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Morristown residents urge careful enforcement of voter-approved gas leaf-blower ban amid immigration fears
Summary
Public comment at the Aug. 5 Morristown Town Council meeting pressed the town to prioritize education and direct outreach to landscapers and residents rather than immediate police enforcement of the 2023 voter-approved gas leaf-blower ban, citing community fear after recent immigration enforcement actions elsewhere.
Judy Byer, a Morristown resident, told the Town Council on Aug. 5 that she supports the 2023 voter-approved ban on gas-powered leaf blowers but urged the town to avoid using police as a first response because of community fears about immigration enforcement. “Now if somebody doesn't comply with the ban, that we shouldn't call the police, well, especially on landscapers,” Byer said during the public-comment period.
The comment came in the meeting's public-comment block and focused on enforcement and community sensitivity. Byer said the ban — effective January through September 2024 per the voter measure discussed at the meeting — was publicized by the town in flyers and the sanitation packet but that many residents and landscapers remain concerned about police contact. She also cited national news reports of immigration enforcement actions affecting landscapers, saying those events have increased fear in immigrant communities.
Town officials present acknowledged the concern and described continuing education and outreach efforts rather than sole reliance on criminal enforcement. A town staff member told the council the administration has used multiple notice channels, including the sanitation calendar, email and social media, and that police communicate with landscaping companies when calls are received. Council members who spoke at the meeting also reported direct outreach to landscapers: one council member said they had called landscaping crews and gotten cooperative responses, and another recommended residents note contractor names and phone numbers from trucks when reporting violations.
Council comments emphasized voluntary compliance and education. Officials said callers who report ongoing noise should notify their council representative or the police so staff can follow up directly with the landscaper or property owner. The council did not take any formal legislative action on enforcement at the meeting.
The public comment record shows the town continues an education-first approach while handling compliance complaints on a case-by-case basis. Council members asked staff to keep outreach ongoing and encouraged residents to provide identifying information on contractors when possible.
